#TBT ~ Great Yarmouth FEX110

This week's Throw Back Thursday features a Great Yarmouth Transport Daimler double decker. FEX110 was one of five Daimler CVG6s with Roe bodywork which were new in May 1961.

Originally numbered 10 in the fleet (and later 15) it received a rather garish Silver Jubilee livery during 1977 which was designed  by local art students. Robert Kelly tells me that all five Daimlers were withdrawn later that year with FEX110 being acquired by Arbuckle of Invergowie the following year. I have also found a photo of it on Flickr when with Greyhound of Arbroath in 1980

My thanks to Robert for the additional information and to Mick Capon in providing more details in the comments below

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 26th July 2017

This week's Notice and Proceedings Report from the Eastern of England Traffic Commissioner again contains many local entries. The main points comprise the the provision of school services for the coming school year plus some changes to Lowestoft area services by First Eastern Counties

Registration of New Services

BorderBus has registered new service SL9 which will operate between Wangford and the Sir John Leman School from 6th September 2017. It will run Monday to Friday school days only

Applications to Vary Existing Services

First Eastern Counties is amending some Lowestoft services from 3rd September 2017. The timetables of the 106 Lowestoft to Burnt Hill and the 99/99B Lowestoft to Southwold are being revised whilst the route and timetables of the 925 Bramfield Road, Halesworth to Bungay High School and the 103 Lowestoft to Carlton Colville will also change.

From 6th September 2017 BorderBus is changing the route and timetables of the following Monday to Friday school services:-
SJL1 Kessingland to Sir John Leman School, Beccles
SJL2 Oulton Broad to Sir John Leman School, Beccles
SJL4 Carlton Colville to Sir John Leman School, Beccles
SJL5 Carlton Colville to Sir John Leman School, Beccles
SJL6 Southwold to Sir John Leman School, Beccles
SJL7 Oulton Broad to Sir John Leman School, Beccles (timetable change only)

Cancellations of Existing Services Granted Under Short Notice

Richard & Audrey Hipkiss of Sutton Road, Catfield is to cancel its Feline DRT route serving  Gimingham, Buxton, Burgh, Brampton, Tuttington from 1st September 2017.

New Applications Received

D R Fosdike Limited has applied for permission for an operating centre for one vehicle at Corner Harris, Fairview Road in Halesworth.

The complete Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed HERE

Roy

BorderBus Loan From Ensignbus ~ Updated

Late yesterday afternoon BorderBus tweeted they had taken an Ensignbus two axle BCI Excellence double decker on loan for evaluation purposes and that it would be out in service today

LX59CNC at the James Paget Hospital this afternoon
Photo courtesy of Will Drake

Colleague Grahame Bessey was fortunate in that he managed to capture the demonstrator on his camera at Pakefield earlier today whilst it was working forward with the 146 to Southwold. It is intended to use it on the 146 Norwich  Beccles - Southwold route all day The decker was Ensigns 144 (LX17DXE) and is similar to the one on loan to First Eastern Counties about a month ago (that was LX17DXB)

BorderBus recent acquisitions, Scania OmniCity deckers LX59CNC/E/J, are also becoming more common on the 580 Waveney Line service between Beccles and Great Yarmouth following their debut on Latitude services. They were formerly with Stagecoach London as their 15138/9/41 and are noticeable for their red livery.

My thanks to Grahame and Will Drake for the photos

Roy

Ipswich Saturday

Saturday saw us in Ipswich for most of the day and we travelled into the town centre using the Park & Ride service from London Road

The first port of call was the Old Cattle Market bus station where I captured Galloway's Optare Solo 360 (MX59AWF) laying over with 119 Framlingham displayed on its destination screen.

Whilst the other half was shopping, I wandered down the end of Carr Street to view activity on St Margaret's Street. That is where I observed former First Great Yarmouth Eclipse 69009 (AU05DMX) getting its kicks on route 66!

After lunch (and yet more shopping) I went back to the Old Cattle Market bus station and saw another Ipswich P&R Enviro300 in the form of 67775 (SN62AXO) on Dogs Head Street. I saw 67775 two months earlier at the rear of First Great Yarmouth's depot in a completely different livery.

Another blue liveried bus was Beestons East Lancs OmniDekka YN55NJZ about to leave the bus station on the 91 to Sudbury.

It was also interesting to see some red liveried vehicles including VA479 (AU53HJV) recently named 'James (Jim) Long' after a local enthusiast who often provided much information and photos for this blog. Others included Ipswich Buses (formerly Carters) Dennis Trident 26 (LR52KWH) and on loan East Lancs Scania N230UD OmniCity demonstrator YR61RPV. This was previously First London SN36032 and then Metroline SN1920

An interesting visit which filled some of the gaps in my photo library plus the surprise meeting with fellow enthusiast Trevor Arbon and his wife.

Roy

Jubilee Coaches ~ VJI8206

Rollesby-based Jubilee Coaches is a relatively new business in the area, being incorporated in early September last year. In the following month an application was made for an operating centre at Jubilee Farm which is located off Fleggburgh Road in the village. Another month passed when the application was approved for five vehicles at the site.

Bedford YNT VJI8206 outside Stalham High School earlier this week

Other than a photo of A400NNK, supplied by David Bell, appearing on the blog earlier this year, (see Norfolk and Suffolk Tour - dated 21st April 2017) I was unaware of  the identity of any other vehicles in use by the operator other than it had subsequently acquired three Bedfords.

That was until this week, when Kevan Portas supplied a photo of their Plaxton Paramount bodied Bedford YNT registered VJI8206 (ex-B360DDW). The coach, together with A400NNK, was originally owned by Turner and Butcher of Kenninghall which subsequently passed to Norfolk Coachways of Attleborough after the former ceased operating.

My thanks to Kevan for the photo

Roy

#TBT ~ Eastern Counties FPW319C

Today we are concluding our look at Eastern Counties double deckers in the late 1970s and early 1980s as part of our Throw Back Thursday feature.

The photo shows two Eastern Coach Works bodied Bristol FS5G heading into Norwich city centre along Market Avenue

The nearest Eastern Counties LFS is FPW319C, which was new to the company in October 1965.

After spending much of its time allocated to Kings Lynn, it was withdrawn from service in November 1981. It was subsequently disposed of to dealers APT of Bracebridge Heath, near Lincoln.

Unfortunately I am unable to identify the second bus in the shot

Roy

Yarmouth Latest

Looks like at lot of visitors in use at Caister Road today, i managed to photograph 3 Loanee's at the depot this afternoon, good timing on my part!

Norwich Volvo B7RLE 66977 KX05MHA leaving the depot to work the 2 Service

66981 KX05MHA resting after a stint on the 6's this morning

Lowestoft based 37579 AU58EDK working the 1A to Lowestoft

Former Ipswich B7RLE 66979 KX05MHF pictured yesterday by Cameron Robinson on the 1's to Martham

Along with those above, Lowestoft Volvo B7TL 30900 and Norwich Streetlite 47508 were also noted in use from Caister Road today.

Grahame.

Service Alterations Registered ~ 19th July 2017

There's quite a few local entries in this week's Notice and Proceedings Report by the Eastern of England Traffic Commissioner. The main points concern the the provision of school services for the coming school year plus the registration, alteration and cancellation of many of Sanders Coaches' services.

New Services Registered

Sanders Coaches has registered two new school day services both commencing on 3rd September 2017. They are the 704 between Sutton Road, Hickling and Stalham Junior School plus the 401 from Cherry Tree Road, Plumstead and Sheingham High School.

Ourhire Limited is to provide normal stopping service 33A starting and ending at North Walsham. Commencing on 3rd September 2017, the Monday to Friday service will comprise three full and five short trips each day. Our Hire is also to run a Monday to Friday hail and ride service 33, from the same date, between North Walsham and Cromer.

Variation In Services

Go West Travel is to amend the route and timetable of  its 414 school service between North Elmham and Reepham High School from 6th September 2017.

Ourhire Limited is altering the timetable of its 271 Hemsby to Bradwell service from 3rd September 2017.

Sanders Coaches is changing the timetable of the following services:-
⧫ 5 Charles Road, Holt to Post Office, North Walsham.
⧫ 6 Post Office, North Walsham to Market Gates, Great Yarmouth.
⧫ 6A Post Office, North Walsham to Cromer Bus Station.
⧫ 34 Post Office, North Walsham to Stalham former railway station site.
⧫ 27/28 Green Lane, Pudding Norton to Morrisons store, Fakenham.
⧫ 44/44S Holt and Holt and Sheringham Station Approach.
⧫ 45/45A Norwich and Holt.
⧫ 46 Holt and Fakenham.
⧫ 210 North Walsham and Norwich Bus Station.
⧫ 834 Stalham to Great Yarmouth's East Norfolk College.
⧫ X44 Reepham to Norwich High School.
⧫ X55/55 Post Office, North Walsham to Norwich City Centre.

The operator is also amending the route and timetable of the following:-
⧫ 9 Holt and Fakenham.
⧫ 43/43A/43B Reepham Market Place and Norwich Bus Station.
⧫ 204 Holt to Wells High School.
⧫ X11/10 Happisburgh Post Office and Norwich High School.

Sanders is also amending the route of the following:-
⧫ 607 Holt to Reepham.
⧫ 609 Melton Constable and Reepham High School together with a new start and finish point.

All changes to Sanders services are to take effect from 3rd September 2017.

Cancellation of Existing Services

Sanders Coaches is to cancel the following services from  the same date:-
⧫ 7 Gresham School and Park Lane, North Walsham.
⧫ 16 Cadogan Road, Cromer to Holt.
⧫ 17 Holt to Sheringham Station Approach.
⧫ 19 Cadogan Road, Cromer to Holt.
⧫ 33/33A North Walsham to Cromer.
⧫ 86 Felmingham and Aylsham High School.
⧫ 706 Sea Palling service.

Hope you have got all that! The complete Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed HERE.

Roy

Tuesday Observations

With this week being the last one of the school year, many schools are organising trips out to various attractions in the area. Yesterday and today I have seen at least four Reynolds Coaches each day awaiting Lynn Grove students on Beccles Road for trips out but alas no camera was present!

Three of  the Smiths Coaches were (left to right )Volvos FP51EUN, 333SXU and Denis Javelin FN02HGY

This afternoon many schools were visiting the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth with coaches from Sanders, Norse and Smith Coaches being called in to provide transport. Unable to get photos of the first two named (as I was driving) I did come across five coaches parked up near the Sea Life Centre on Marine Parade. All five were being operated for Smiths although one was on hire from Peelings Coaches in the form of Plaxton Paragon bodied Volvo B12M JJZ9130

Plaxton Paragon bodied Volvo B10M 333SXU

The Smiths' foursome included FJ53KZK, a Volvo B12M with Berkhof Axial bodywork and Volvo B12M FP51EUN. Also observed was Plaxton Paragon bodied Volvo B10M 333SXU (previously Y152EAY) having a rare outing to the seaside. Making up the numbers was Dennis Javelin FN02HGY

Located at Beach Coach Station was Norfolk Coachways YJZ2787. This is a 1996 Volvo registered in May of that year to Paterson & Brown of Kilbirnie on the west coast of Scotland as N94HSJ. It has also been registered YSV608 and has seven previous owners before the present keeper reports Cazana

Meanwhile, First Norwich Purple Line 33166 LR02LYD continues in use in Great Yarmouth today being employed on the 8 route between the James Paget Hospital and Caister's Second Avenue.

Roy

The Charcoal One

As luck would have it my home village was the backdrop for some photos of loanee Volvo B7RLE 66981 KX05MHK which is spending a few days at Yarmouth prior to heading to Norwich to be transformed into a Red line vehicle.

It was noted earlier in the day working the 1B service before changing to the 1 service between Lowestoft & Martham, it is seen above in Ormesby St Margaret this evening heading towards Martham.

Grahame.

Ambassador Demonstrator

We have been kindly informed that Ambassador Travel have been using Scania Demonstrator YN66WOJ on loan for some of their Sunrise tour duties.

It is the same Higer Touring spec as the two Scanias recently added to the fleet, it is due to return to Scania Bus & Coach at Worksop tomorrow.

Thanks to Will Drake for the info and Photographs from Ambassador.

Grahame.

Eclipse Updates

This morning has also seen Ipswich based Volvo B7RLE 66981 KX05MHK move down to Caister Road prior to moving along to Norwich to gain a Red front for use there.

66981 KX05MHK at Caister Road this morning.

Another Volvo B7 60916 YG02DKU is being repainted into the same Red Heritage livery as Double Deck Volvo B7TL 32479, it was pictured at Ipswich Depot yesterday prior to being collected by Norwich staff for the finishing touches, it was repainted at Simon Morris in Ipswich.

60916 at Foundation Street Ipswich on Friday

Many Thanks to First for the Photos.                 Grahame.

Saturday Sightings

A few sightings from a trip into town this morning, all captured whilst heading for Breakfast!

First up is Borderbus Volvo X644LLX which was working the 580 to Bungay, pictured here outside the old BHS store in Yarmouth Town Cenre.

Next up following on from Roy's post yesterday, Norwich Purple line liveried 33166 LR02LYD was noted on Beaconsfield Road working the 8 to Caister.

On to Beach Coach Station where a couple of local coaches were noted having a day out.

First up is Suffolk Norse Volvo/Plaxton Panther YN60FML with Beestons Volvo B12/Van Hool 221GRA (WA05WLD) parked alongside it.

Grahame.

Avon Calling!

Some of you may remember that I exclusively revealed in March this year that First Great Yarmouth's Volvo B7TL / Alexander ALX400s 30887 and 30902 (W742/757DWX) had both been acquired by Avon Buses of Birkenhead (Where Are They Now W742/757DWX)

With the help of Ryan Durrant, I have located another photo of the twosome at Avon Buses depot on the North Cheshire Trading Estate in Birkenhead taken in early June. Cody Cooke's photo shows 757 has been repainted into the Avon livery and looks very smart, whereas 742 still wears the First group "Urban" livery.

My thanks to Cody for the use of his photo and to Ryan for the heads up.

Roy

Purple Haze

With the appearance of a First Norwich Purple Line decker at Caister Road today, I just had to entitle this post Purple Haze as a tribute to my favourite rock guitarist, singer and songwriter Jimi Hendrix.

The bus was Dennis Trident 33166 LR02LYD and was at First Great Yarmouth's depot for its annual MOT. It was quickly borrowed for use in  service as one of its StreetLites was in London today providing shuttles between the London Excel centre and the various sports venues for the World Paralympic Athletics Championships.

My thanks to Will Drake for the photo and to Simon Taylor for the information regarding the use of 47504 (SN64CPY)

Roy

#TBT ~ Eastern Counties AVF579B

The Eastern Counties double decker theme continues with this week's offering. But before we get to that I can update you a little on last week's feature on BNG886B as Syd Eade offers a  more recent photo taken in Belgium during August 2014 This can be seen in the original post ( #TBT ~ Eastern Counties BNG886B). My thanks Syd.

This week we see another Eastern Coach Works bodied Bristol FS5G AVF579B. It was new to Eastern Counties in May 1964 as LFS79 and after being based at Cromer for a short period it became a Norwich based bus. It is seen here at a very quiet Castle Meadow in 1980. Withdrawal came in July 1981.

AVF579B was then sold to dealer APT of Bracebridge Heath; finally meeting its end after scrapping by breaker PVS of Carlton during May 1982

Roy

Service Alterations Registered ~ 12th July 2017

For the second consecutive week there is only one local entry in this week's Notices and Proceedings Report, published by the East of England Commissioner.

Granted under short notice is an application by A J and G A Buckland of Woodbridge to amend the route, stopping places and timetable of its 250 service between Fort Green in Aldeburgh and Old Homes Road in Thorpness from 26th July 2017

The complete Notices and Proceedings Report can be viewed HERE

Roy

Beach Coach Station Monday

Surprisingly many coaches and lorries were parked at Beach Coach Station during yesterday evening and I am not too sure if this is a regular occurrence or just a one off.

One of the Alfa Travel quartet was Tourismo BN11UFK

In addition to the independent operators present, the regular short break touring companies were much in evidence - four from Alfa Travel, three from Shearings and the solitary National Holidays' example.

Tourismos BX14OMO and NH15LDH being photo bombed by a gull

The Alfa representatives were Tourismo's BN11UFK, BN12CLV and BX14OMO plus Volvo B12B PO59FHX. The last mentioned also being present on Saturday evening (see Beach Coach Station Excetera)

Looking very smart was Shearings Holiday's Tourismo BJ16KXO

Shearings Holidays were represented by Setras BK11GJG (303) and BK11CRF (324) with Tourismo BJ16KXO (840) also appearing. The only National Holidays' coach was regular Tourismo visitor NH15LDH

Roy

Bedford at Wheels Festival

WLO685 at last years event. Photo:Zeus Wearn

Over the last couple of days, the Great Yarmouth Wheels Festival has been held along the town's seafront. On display has been a range of classic and contemporary vehicles with visitors able to ride between the town and the seafront display areas in a classic 1959 coach.

As in last year's event, the vehicle used was WLO685 a privately owned and restored Duple Super Vega bodied Bedford SB3, new to Curries of Bexleyheath. Now owned by Sidelines of Long Stratton, it is often used by Spratts of Wrenningham on a number of mystery tours and vintage themed excursions.

My thanks to Kyle Hewett for bringing this to my attention.

Roy

Beach Coach Station Excetera

There were some visitors to Beach Coach Station during yesterday evening that were worthy of note.

Firstly three National Holidays' Setras were parked together on the rear rank of the coach station. They were, left to right, NH14RBH, NH14DBH and NH13JWH

An unusual visitor was yellow liveried Volvo B7R / Plaxton Profile YX60BZR from the fleet of Buses Excetera, also known as Croydon Coaches

Also present were Alfa Travels' Plaxton bodied Volvo B12B PO59HFX (54) and Mercedes Benz Tourismo BX15OED (92)

Roy

Eastern Coach Works ~ 30th Anniversary Weekend

The East Anglian Transport Museum holds its special event to commemorate the closure of Lowestoft's Eastern Coach Works just thirty years ago and we were there yesterday.

Although the day started dull and overcast, by the time the gates were open the sun was out and it was feeling warm. I used the Park and Ride service (right) from the Co-op store in Ashburnham Way with First Eastern Counties thoughtfully providing Gemini 37572 AU58ECW.

On entering the site Leyland Olympian D367JJD was parked beside Lowestoft Corporation AEC Swift YRT898H and I was hopeful of a ride on the former which unfortunately didn't materialise!

After passing Southdown ECW bodied Leyland Tiger GUF727 outside the entrance to the ESLR station I saw the Eastern Transport Collection's Bristol LD OVF229 postioned back to back with York-West Yorkshire Bristol FS6B NWU265D. The 1966 preserved vehicle also carried fleet number YDX221

I then came across London Transport LUC389, an AEC Regal lV with an ECW C39F body, new in 1951.

Turning the corner, I then observed another West Yorkshire bus in the form of 1962 Bristol SUL4A 811BWR on sentry duty guarding the entrance to the new museum extension into the field behind.

There were three groups of vehicles in the field and the first contained Red and White Services preserved 1968 Bristol RELH-6L/ECW bodied RC968 OAX9F alongside 1950 Bristol L6A LKT991 from the Maidstone & District fleet.

Also among the same group was Eastern National Bristol L6B / ECW 4107 PTW110. Built in 1950, it is now preserved at the Castle Point Transport Museum at Canvey Island

In the middle group was a United Auto Leyland Olympian B251NVN, formerly with Transdev Burnley & Pendle

The third group comprised a very colourful trio. Bristol FS5G/ECW H33/27RD OVL473, new to Lincolnshire in July 1960, was sandwiched between two Bristol VRs. On the left is former Southern Vectis FDL681V and on the right is open top former Southern National ATA559L. Interestingly ATA559L was stored in Great Yarmouth by First Eastern Counties during early 2002 and subsequently moved to Ben Jordan for further storage prior to preservation

During the course of the afternoon a few vehicles arrived including Patrick Burnside's beautifully restored former Eastern Counties Bristol SC4LK 3003AH and ex Eastern National Lodekka 2849 NTW942C

Unfortunately I couldn't stay for the procession and assembly of vehicles in north Lowestoft but enjoyed the day and it was good to meet up with friends Tim Miller and Trevor Arbon

My thanks to the museum for assembling a good variety of vehicles with more photos appearing on my Flickr site HERE

Roy

Kent County Show

Today is the first day of the three day Kent County show held at Detling, just north of Maidstone in Kent.

The show has an area especially set aside for heritage vehicles and Glenda Brown has been kind enough to send in some photos of some of the vehicles present.

The first picture shows 1950 built London Transport Weyman bodied AEC Regent III RT3183 (KYY912) alongside former East Kent Dennis Lancet II JG8720 of 1937 vintage.

The second submission shows a beautifully preserved 1964 Western Welsh AEC Reliance /Harrington Grenadier ABO 145B. On the left is 900SAF, a 1963 AEC Reliance with Harrington Cavalier bodywork.

The third shows two double deckers - on the left is Maidstone & District AEC Regent / Park Royal VKR470. It was new in June 1956 as its DH478. On the right is another Maidstone & District bus - Volvo Alisa B55-10 / Alexander registered as LKP385P with fleet number 5385.

The final photo is of a third Maidstone & District vehicle and this one is of a Harrington dual purpose bodied AEC Reliance which was new in October 1958 as its CO390. Whilst on the left is Southdown 2726CD a Leyland Leopard, Harrington Cavalier. It was new in July 1961 with a fleet number 1726

My thanks to Glenda Brown for the use of her photos

Roy